Ace of Spades ✅

20; Don't talk to me.

Four Years Ago.

Baita Cantonment, Bauchi State.

There seemed to be something bothering Aadil; that much Inaya noticed after spending about a week at Sector 16. At first, she thought it was simply him being cold towards her due to the bad start they had, but it seemed he was like that with everyone else as well.

If she wasn't certain something was bothering him, then the encounter they had a few days before seemed to prove it. She had to work late that day, so when she returned to their office to pack her belongings and call it a day, she found himself asleep in his chair alone there.

Out of instinct, she tried to wake him up so he could go home as well and rest. However, the minute she tried to do that, she found herself in a chokehold—one that took the breath out of her then.

Luckily, he was quick to realize the position they were in and hastily let go of her as if the action burnt him. He didn't say a word to her as she hunched over and coughed, trying to gain back her breath. Even with slightly misted eyes, she could tell he was disheveled then.

Just when she tried to speak to him, he spared her a look that she couldn't tell what it meant exactly before he stormed out of the office—never once looking back.

She hadn't seen him since then. If she didn't know better, she'd say he was avoiding her because he was feeling guilty. So, when she eventually got tired of the whole hiding game, she asked Sergeant Mahmoud where she could find him, only to be directed to the shooting range—a place Aadil seems to be spending quite a lot of time in recently.

So, she headed there. On arriving at the shooting range, she was quick to note that there were only a few people there, which made her search easier. It didn't take long for her to spot him, considering he was at the far end.

Trudging in his direction, her eyes remained fixated on him. He doesn't seem conscious of his surroundings in the slightest, and was invested in the whole shooting thing. Not to lie, Inaya couldn't help but admire how precise his entire action was, clearly an expert in the whole thing.

However, as she got closer to him, she couldn't help but wonder if he was using it as an excuse to get over whatever problem he has. He was sporting the same distant look he's had in the past few days, though his shots were on point. It was almost as if he was in his element, doing what he loves the best.

She reached where he was not long after, and wasn't surprised when he turned his head to the side to see who it was. When his gaze fell on her, he didn't sport any noticeable reaction. He simply brought his hand that held the gun to the side, and reached out to take off the ear muffs before turning to look at her completely.

"Can I be of help to you, Ma'am?" His tone was cold, as it has been in the past few days. She found it to a miracle that he's still respecting ranks despite his cold attitude.

She offered him a small smile, before shrugging. "Not really. Can't I decide to check on my right hand man?"

He looked away for a brief second, holding back the urge to roll his eyes—an action rubbed off on him by a certain woman in his life. Once he had put a lid of his emotions, he met her gaze again. "If it isn't about work, I'd rather we keep our distance."

She tiled her head to the side, feigning ignorance. "What are you trying to say?"

Aadil pressed his together, holding his silence for a brief second. The answer he wants to give her isn't appropriate to give a superior, but he couldn't help it. "Don't talk to me, I don't want anyone to even think we're friends." He grumbled lowly, dropping the gun back in place.